Newborn screening as a system from birth through lifelong care

Abstract

The American Academy of Pediatrics Newborn Screening Task Force1 called for a national agenda for state newborn screening programs. The Task Force members recognized that newborn screening was far more than the collection of blood from newborns on filter paper blotters, shipping the blotters to the state newborn screening lab, testing in the laboratory, and reporting the results of the screening test. They emphasized the importance of diagnosis, timely initiation of treatment and long-term follow-up within the context of a medical home and a subspecialty center. They recommended that there be a rational basis for the addition of new tests and a move to uniformity across states in the tests included. They encouraged parents and community members to be involved in newborn screening policy development.